Home, School, and Community Relations

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This practical text is designed to meet the needs of students, administrators, and teachers of children of all ages who are trying to create effective partnerships with families. It provides an overview of modern families and their complex roles, to sensitize teachers to the diversity and needs of families they will encounter. The text discusses fully both the benefits of creating productive partnerships and the barriers that teachers must work beyond. Practical and effective communication strategies are described, with abundant examples. Emphasis is placed on current developments in the field of early childhood education, legislative mandates in education, and position statements from professional organizations. A discussion of No Child Left Behind and updated NAEYC Code of Ethics accreditation standards for programs and for teacher education supports this emphasis.

Foreword

ix

Preface

xi

Acknowledgments

xviii

SECTION I Introduction to Families

A Day with Two Families: Diversity of Experience

2

(17)

The Lawrence Family

3

(4)

The Ashley Family

7

(3)

Implications for Teachers

10

(1)

Diversity

11

(8)

Families Today

19

(50)

What Defines a Family?

20

(14)

Demographics of Modern Families

34

(24)

Why Study Sociological Trends?

58

(11)

Parenting

69

(57)

Roles Parents Play

71

(36)

Parenthood as an Emotional Experience

107

(15)

Appendix: Touchpoints Model

122

(4)

SECTION II Teacher--Family Partnerships in Early Education

What Is Family Involvement?

126

(42)

Perspectives on Family Involvement

127

(2)

A Brief History of Family Involvement

129

(4)

Research on Child Development as Motivation to Include Parents

133

(7)

Mandated Parent Involvement

140

(17)

Community Concern for Family Support

157

(11)

Benefits of Teacher--Family Partnerships for Children, Parents, and Teachers